After broadcaster boycott: US justice system examines violation of antitrust law

After several broadcasters temporarily stopped reporting on US President Donald Trump, the Justice Department is investigating a possible violation of antitrust law. This is reported by the New York Times and other media, citing a ministry spokeswoman and their own sources.

Accordingly, it is an investigation into the channels in the White House TV pool - ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. Citing six people familiar with the ministry's actions, it said the ministry contacted the media on Friday and requested documents related to the pool.

The close TV support on Trump's appointments and trips is regulated by a rotation principle by major television channels. These generally make their material available to other media. This pool principle also serves to divide the costs between the media companies.

Boycott after CNN's expulsion from the White House

In September, Trump's dispute with the established US media escalated after the media companies CNN, MS NOW and Politico were expelled from the White House. The US President accused them of spreading fake news. Critics saw the expulsion as an attempt at intimidation and an attack on press freedom.

The three media companies sued against their banishment. The remaining pool stations temporarily stopped reporting on Trump in protest. The White House then launched its own online channel: Trump TV.

As several media outlets now unanimously quote from a statement from a spokeswoman for the US Department of Justice, group boycotts among commercial competitors could violate a central antitrust law. Emily Covington said: "The Antitrust Division is simply conducting an investigation to determine whether these news organizations have violated antitrust laws."

The chairman of the journalists' organization Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Bruce D. Brown, described the antitrust investigation that has now been initiated against the five broadcasters as "another and even more brazen attempt to intimidate journalists."